Listener 4100: Table-turning by Kea

[midazolam]

This is what the listener is all about. As soon as I saw Kea's name at the top I knew this was going to be good. This was a real challenge, the like we have been missing recently. Masterful construction with ingenious ideas in both clues and design. The best this year so far. Thanks for the brain workout Kea.

[tweaker]

Clueless Joe.

Thanks last week for the Listener Penguin publisher book info. I guess it'll be being in the right place at the right time with the right amount of money to bid on Ebay.

This weeks Kea is a corker I agree.

[flocker]

indeed! am going to have to throw in the towel on this - there isn't world enough or time - but it's odd because the clues I have solved are relatively transparent - but then you hit a wall - I defy man or beast to solve 1 ac even - or 4 dn etc

[Eril]

S-Matrix - very impressed that you had already completed the perimeter within ten minutes, using only a couple of clues.

Of course, this is the Listener...

[starwalker]

Everything that I have come to expect from Kea. Best of the year so far and a definite contender for the Gold Cup. That said, I still think that is not as good as his "Safe Cracking" but then . . .

[trux]

All done, and feeling pleased ... A quite superb construction that's taken up most of my waking hours (which were more numerous than they should have been), but very satisfying - and well worth plugging on with, on and on, to its delightful end. Thanks, Kea.

[midazolam]

S-Matrix. I was in the minority last week not enjoying the PD style, although I recognised the neat construction. If we were all the same it would be a boring place.

It would be nice to see what you could/have come with. Realising how much effort it takes to create them, particular here ensuring the original grid has to utilise the added/removed letters whilst at the same time ensuring a final grid with real words is masterful. I don't think murdered can describe this, but each to their own.

[teuchter2]

I'm finding this one difficult. I've worked out the quotation, but obviously this can't be put in too soon or it hinders the solving of some clues. I have various answers where I have the entry, but haven't worked out what the jumbled word is a jumble of. I haven't yet worked on the instructions given by initial letters etc. I think that is the next stop in my persevering.

[kwyjibo]

This is the sort of challenge that I've always enjoyed about the Listener. There were a couple of red herrings thrown in that made it even tougher. There was one clue I didnt solve till after I'd followed the instructions. One of the best and toughest of the year.

[contendo]

Got the quotation now, though half the perimeter seems to be haywire (or misshapen). Still no nearer to understanding how the jumbling works. I think this is going to be my first failure in the last 15 and, with a numerical coming next week, it would be the end of the world if it wasn't for United (Newcastle that is) winning 6-0 today.

[dr b]

Aren't we (arguing)/(having a respectful disagreement) over tastes? It's a bit like me saying my music is better than yours when the truth is only that I prefer my music and you prefer your music (unless your music is Madonna).

I think we can all agree that the vast majority of Listeners are exceedingly clever in their construction and applaud the setter for the work that went into the puzzle - but we're not then all obligated to enjoy solving it to the same degree. I can recognize the skill that Wagner possessed, but he's not on my iPod.

[IainGrace]

Agree that this is a challenging and satisfying puzzle well up to standard, so some criticism seems a bit harsh.

Incidentally, buoyed no doubt like Teuchter2 by Saturday's Scottish football results, returned to 4099. I would encourage PD sceptics to persevere, as there is much more to it than meets the eye when one stumbles on the fundamental PDM in the construction.

[contendo]

Dr b - I'm with you over Wagner.

[Ruthrobin]

S-matrix, after my initial reaction to what seemed to me to be the rather hasty and surprising comment from someone who had not yet completed this puzzle, I decided to stay out of your 'debate'. However, I feel that I have to come in again to remind you of the principles of our friendly group, since I feel that, in your determination to defend your initial point of view, you are on the verge of saying far too much about Kea's puzzle. It is not fair to Kea or to solvers. I am sure we have all accepted your right to your opinions - time to stop perhaps?

[AndrewG-S]

I am about 3/4 of the way through and enjoying it so far. A bit like others I got the author and quote very quickly but things slowed from there. Moving away from the contentious debate above and back to an old favourite, it crossed my mind over the weekend (as I reviewed Staurologist's graphs, for which many thanks) as to whether setters also debate the rights and wrongs of electronic/internet aids versus simply using the BRB/paper materials. My suspicion is that most setters would use a lot of electronic help which would not only make setting faster, but also give far easier access to more obscure words and meanings. If this is the case then it feels like a fairly level playing field between setters and solvers is maintained and the addition of new solving aids is likely to be balanced by enhanced setting materials. This seems to be supported by Staurologist's analysis.

[failedagain]

S-matrix, you've clearly spoiled the puzzle for yourself. Please don't spoil it for everyone else.